WON’T YOU “SKIP A LUNCH, SAVE A CHILD”? Hunger at our doorsteps Many families in Haiti live in the kind of “absolute poverty” where the majority of the income they earn from extremely hard work goes just to provide food for survival. Often there is not enough even for that.  Among preschool children  (ages 0 to 4) in Haiti the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 33% are “underdeveloped” for their ages. Another 37% are “stunted” and will never achieve normal physical development.  Finally 14% of all preschool children in Haiti are “wasted”, meaning that they are so severely malnourished that they will not survive.   These figures fail to tell the entire story of children’s struggle for survival in Haiti however.  Chronic malnutrition is more often an indirect cause of death among children ages 1-5 years. Because these children do not get enough to eat they have less natural resistance to disease.  When they get sick, as all children do, they may recover, but it usually takes them longer than it would if they were well fed. The next time they get sick recovery may takes longer still. Eventually children who never get adequate nutrition succumb to illnesses that other children are strong enough to overcome. One woman CAN make a difference! The mission of the Rich in Mercy Mission Institute includes providing opportunities and inspiring initiatives to meet the material and spiritual needs of the most impoverished peoples of the Americas. One woman, Marlene Shaw of Republic, PA, was inspired after a June 2002 “reverse mission pilgrimage” to create the “Skip a Lunch, Save a Child” sponsorship program. Just $5 a month (the cost of skipping one lunch) provides financial support for a “head start” early education and nutrition program for more than 50 preschoolers in the St. Louis Marie de Montfort parish in Port-au-Prince.  These children are bright, playful, full of love and affection. Their families work hard every day, but despite their hard work they cannot earn enough to provide adequate food for their children. The parish is providing for these “at risk” children and together with Marlene Shaw YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THESE CHILDREN!  SKIP LUNCH - DONATE NOW. Click here to learn more about this program by reading Marlene Shaw’s own inspiring letter . SEA CONTAINER SHIPMENTS TO HAITI In 1993 Rich in Mercy began collecting medicines and medical supplies, school supplies, shoes, and other necessary or useful items to ship to Haiti. More than 18,000 lbs. of goods have been shipped since the project began! Medicines and medical supplies are sent to the Hospice St. Joseph clinic in Port au Prince, the APF Medical Clinic in Fondwa, the St. Louis Marie de Montfort Clinic in Port au Prince, and Hospice St. Damien, a children’s hospital associated with the Little Brothers and Sisters of St. Helen orphanage directed by Fr. Rick Frechette, CP. Shipping is done in April and September through the Parish Twinning Program of the Americas “Sea Container Program” which provides low-cost shipping to Port au Prince from either Tennessee (in April) or New Jersey (in September). Beginning in the late 1990s the Pittsburgh Regional Haiti Solidarity Committee began supporting the project with volunteer help, financial support, and collecting materials to be shipped through its network of friends in the Pittsburgh area. Sacred Heart Parish in Shadyside has graciously allowed us to store donated items in one of the parish buildings and has generally been invaluable in helping make the project a continuing success. Contact the Rich in Mercy office if you would like to contribute to this project or visit the Donate Now page to make a financial contribution! A list of useful or needed items follows. MEDICINES AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES Children’s vitamins (chewable with or without iron) Pre-Natal Vitamins Oral (and injectable) anti-biotics (broad spectrum) Cold and flu remedies, decongestants, cough medicine Tylenol and ibuprofen (adults’ and children’s ), other analgesics  (NSAIDs, aspirin) Anti-fungal and antibiotic topical ointments Dressings, bandages, gauze sponges, adhesive tape, skin prep, etc. Antacids (chewable) Syringes and needles (3cc and 5cc) Latex gloves, anti-bacterial wipes, alcohol preps Chem strips for testing urine Anti-diarrheal medications NON-MEDICAL ITEMS School supplies (pencils, crayons, erasers, sharpeners, art supplies,  backpacks, etc.) French-English dictionaries Soccer balls, basketballs, and tennis shoes (used or new, assorted sizes) Small stuffed animals or soft toys, other toys Children’s underwear, diapers (cloth only!) and diaper pins Transistor radios and batteries (especially AA and D sizes)